Check out the latest news and happenings from the Bellevue Police Department.
City News
Pagination
Shirley appointed interim police chief
City Manager Brad Miyake has appointed Wendell J. Shirley to lead the Bellevue Police Department, while the city begins the process of looking for a permanent replacement. Shirley, hired as assistant chief in March, has over 25 years of experience in law enforcement.
Protests expected downtown Tuesday night
Bellevue public safety officials have learned of protests being planned for the evening of Tuesday, May 11, in downtown Bellevue. One demonstration was advertised to start at 7 p.m. at Downtown Park. Two other groups may stage protests outside the Hyatt Regency.
New assistant police chief eager to make community connections
Wendell J. Shirley, a former long-time officer in the Santa Monica, California Police Department, was sworn in Monday, March 8, as an assistant police chief with Bellevue.
![Assistant Police Chief Wendell Shirley, left, is sworn in by Chief Steve Mylett.](/sites/default/files/styles/article_featured_image_small/public/media/article_featured_image/2021-03/Wendell%20Shirley%20with%20Chief%20Mylett.jpg?h=10d202d3&itok=LyrY8xr4)
Police offer ‘Conversations with the Chief’ series
Building on the success of his first online town hall last year, Police Chief Steve Mylett will host a series of “Conversations with the Chief” with various community groups this year, starting with one Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2:30 p.m., with the Asian/Pacific Islander community.
Community representatives wanted for team investigating police uses of deadly force
The Bellevue Police Department seeks five community members to serve as community representatives on a new Independent Force Investigation Team – King County, which will investigate police use of deadly force in Bellevue and its partner jurisdictions.
Suspected sex trafficker arrested; 16-year-old girl recovered
Bellevue detectives arrested a 19-year-old man suspected of trafficking a 16-year-old girl. Between Dec. 30 and Jan. 1, investigators say Keith Sims transported a vulnerable family member to a hotel in Bellevue for an hour-long, $400 prostitution date.
![Confiscated gun and cash](/sites/default/files/styles/article_featured_image_small/public/media/article_featured_image/2021-01/AElliot%20sex%20trafficker.jpg?h=d0470b75&itok=sR433YfL)
Vice operation recovers three juvenile sex-trafficking victims
A two-night undercover vice operation helped recover three juvenile sex-trafficking victims and connect them to immediate services.
![Confiscated evidence](/sites/default/files/styles/article_featured_image_small/public/media/article_featured_image/2021-01/2020-12-22%2009_35_20-evidence4_0.png?h=5dc9785f&itok=8FGajaYt)
Police chief to take questions in virtual chat
Given pandemic protocols, Bellevue police officers have not been able to meet residents informally in 2020 as they have in recent years through the "Coffee with a Cop" program. To make up for that, Chief Steve Mylett is inviting residents to join him on a Zoom chat on Thursday, Dec.
![Conversations with the Chief](/sites/default/files/styles/article_featured_image_small/public/media/article_featured_image/2020-12/BPD-20-5880_FACEBOOK_2.jpg?h=ec041e41&itok=2L2uSGVX)
Lock up your guns, be safe
Applications for firearms are up 200% in Bellevue since the pandemic began. Before residents can legally own a gun, they are required to file a Firearms Transfer Application with the police department, which includes a background check.
![Locked gun](/sites/default/files/styles/article_featured_image_small/public/media/article_featured_image/2020-12/Gun%20lock.jpg?h=242cd5c8&itok=597u5Ns6)